Infectious Diseases & Research

• Covers multiple topics related to disease studies, including infectious diseases, addictions, respiratory diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, and xenotransplantation, which involves using animal tissues or organs for human transplants; this field raises important ethical and medical questions involving compatibility and disease transmission.

Characteristics of Nonhuman Primates

• Nonhuman primates possess several physical and behavioral traits that enhance their interaction with the environment:

  • Opposable Thumbs: Allow for a strong grip on objects and tools.

  • Prehensile Tails: Found in species like spider monkeys, these tails aid in holding onto branches, enhancing mobility in trees.

  • Stereoscopic Vision: Provides depth perception, critical for navigating complex environments.

  • Large Brains: Indicate high intelligence and capacity for problem-solving, social interaction, and complex behavior.

  • Enclosed Bony Orbits: Their eye sockets are similar to humans, indicating a reliance on vision for survival.

  • Long Gestation Periods: Varying across species, these durations reflect extensive care for offspring, crucial for infant survival and social learning.

Types of Primates

• Nonhuman primates are divided into several groups:

  • Prosimians: Small to medium monkeys that include species like squirrel monkeys and lemurs, often exhibiting nocturnal behaviors.

  • Catarrhines: Known as Old World monkeys (e.g., macaques, baboons) with traits such as hooked noses and ischial callosities, which are specialized sitting pads; these adaptations enhance their habitat use in terrestrial environments.

  • Platyrrhines: New World monkeys (e.g., marmosets, capuchins) characterized by their wide nasal septum and outward-facing nostrils, many of which have prehensile tails, an adaptation for their arboreal lifestyle.

Reproductive Strategies

• Different mating systems exhibit the diversity of primate social structures:

  • Timed Mating: Involves tracking female reproductive cycles to optimize breeding chances.

  • Paired Mating: Involves monogamous pair bonds for breeding, often observed in certain species.

  • Harem Systems: Lead males maintain groups of females, influencing dynamics and genetics.

  • Free-range Mating: In larger environments, allows for natural breeding practices among multiple males and females; enhances genetic diversity.

  • Purposeful breeding in captive settings is utilized to monitor health and reduce importation challenges, aiding in conservation efforts.

Behavioral Characteristics

• Social behavior is integral to primates:

  • Exhibit high intelligence, often requiring social interaction for psychological well-being.

  • Allogrooming: Serves as a bond-building activity, helping to reinforce social hierarchies and reduce tension within groups.

  • Utilize body language for communication, such as showing teeth as an aggression signal and lip-smacking to convey submission or friendship.

Enrichment in Captivity

• Essential for promoting psychological health; varied enrichment activities are crucial:

  • Include toys, puzzles, and social interactions that stimulate both physical and cognitive abilities.

  • Provides both physical and mental stimulation to prevents stress and behavioral issues commonly seen in captivity.

Husbandry and Care

• Proper care regimen to ensure health and welfare of primates includes:

  • Temperature Management: Optimal living conditions range from 64 to 84°F, crucial for maintaining metabolic health.

  • Humidity Control: Essential range is between 30-70% to support respiratory health.

  • Enclosure designs vary based on species needs and research parameters, ensuring cleanliness and species-appropriate environments for optimal health.

Nutrition

• Diet is primarily omnivorous in the wild, consisting of leaves, insects, and fruits; captive diets often shift to commercially available foods.

  • Must include Vitamin C due to the inability of many primates to synthesize this vitamin; otherwise, they risk diseases like scurvy.

  • Attention to feeding practices is critical, as improper diets may lead to protein deficiencies and other health issues.

Procedural Techniques

• Safe handling and administering medications are crucial for health care routines:

  • Techniques include subcutaneous injections and oral medication.

  • Training methods are used for self-medication, seen in diabetic apes administering their own injections.

  • Blood collection and IV administration practices are employed through effective behavioral training, ensuring both animal safety and handler safety, making medical procedures less stressful and more humane.